"Pero mahal mo pa naman siya, diba?" Loel randomly said while they're eating.
"Bro naman, syempre."
"Oh, okay. Buti na lang di sayang pera ko."
"What do you mean?" Thirdy asked.
"Bought you tickets to NY."
"You're kidding me, Loel."
"Actually, Dad suggested it. Fix it, Chef. You know that we are always rooting for you."
Thirdy is shocked. He stopped eating.
"Kumain ka na. Pack light lang. Two days lang naman si Bei don, so sabay na kayo umuwi."
"Seryoso ba to?" he asked.
"Oo nga. Pagdrive na kita."
New York 2019
Bea clipped her hair behind her ears, sat straight, and looked at him.
"If you want to break up in person, just say the words, Thirdy."
"Ay, ayaw mong iclaim ko? Okay, exchange na lang pala. Sayo na puso ko, basta akin na iyo," he said jokingly.
Napailing na lang si Bea.
When they reached her apartment, agad na bumaba si Bea to open the door. Thirdy just followed, carrying her luggage and his own bag.
"There's an extra room upstairs sa left side," Bea said while opening the lights.
"Share mo na lang?" Thirdy jokingly said.
"I'm serious."
"Beatriz, tabi naman tayo matulog ever since naging tayo ah."
"Only if I'm in PH or you visited here. And yeah, nung tayo."
"Who says we broke up ba?" Thirdy said. This time, nakapamewang siya at seryosong nakatingin kay Bea.
Bea couldn't answer. She just assumed that they broke up because he walked out.
"I replied to your text. Late nga lang, but I texted," he added.
Bea went to her bag and fetched her phone.
She turned it on.
"Wala naman eh," she said, showing na walang notifications.
After five seconds, her phone dinged and vibrated. She received a lot of messages. She checked if may text ba talaga si Thirdy.
"Okay, sorry. Di ko nabasa."
She's now sitting on her sofa, reading all the messages.
Noong natapos na siya magbasa, she looked at him. Thirdy's brows went up.
"You done?"
"I left the ring kay Kuya," she said at kumuha ng tubig sa ref.
Thirdy went close to her, kinuha niya yung tubig na hawak ni Bea at pinatong sa table sa likod nila. She's just staring at him.
Kinuha niya ang singsing sa bulsa niya.
"Sobrang pangit nung singsing pag hindi mo suot. You'll always be the person I want to marry. Nothing can change that, kahit anong tampuhan or away pa."
At sinuot niya ito kay Bea.
Bea is teary-eyed already. She hugged him and cried.
"Akala ko you'll leave me na."
"Sorry. Napagod lang, pero narealize ko mas nakakapagod mabuhay kung wala ka."
He kissed her forehead.
"I'm so sorry if I have to do this."
"Okay na. Mas gusto kong nakikita kang masaya kahit malayo ka, kesa naman kapag magkasama tayo, malayo ang tingin mo."
"I promise to go home to you once a month."
"Kahit I'll be the one to go here. Okay lang."
They're still hugging each other.
"Don't get tired, please," she whispered.
"No. I'll be tired, but I'll never give up on you."
"I'm so sorry for causing a lot of pain, Thirdy."
"You're my pain, you're my disease, but you're my only cure, my Angel. Don't worry, I will always love you even if it hurts."
"I'm so sorry."
"Stop saying sorry, Bea. We'll make it work. Okay?"
He cupped her face and gave her a peck.
"Let's sleep na, please."
Thirdy chuckled.
"Okay. Finish your work here in two days so we can plan the wedding na."
"Yes, Chef!"
"Do you love me?" Thirdy asked.
"Yes. Sobra," Bea said in an exaggerated tone.
"That's more than enough for me. I love you too."
She smiled and they went to the room to sleep and cuddle all night.
Bea woke up with no one beside her. She panicked a little. Baka panaginip lang lahat.
She checked her finger, and the ring is still there. She sighed.
"Okay, chill, Bei," she whispered to herself.
She wore her slippers and lumabas ng kwarto. The smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes is all over the house. She smiled. She went straight to the kitchen and saw Thirdy.
"Hi," she greeted him.
"Uy. You're awake agad. Breakfast is not yet done eh."
"I'll help."
Thirdy looked at her.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Just tell me what to do."
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"I'll finish the interview and the papers tonight. Then, I'll check the condition of a patient. Endorse ko na lang siya sa other doctor and we can fly back to Manila na," Bea said while munching the food.
"Uhm, can we eat out with Zel first? I think she's mad."
Bea chuckled.
"Really? Why naman?"
"She's so cold to me last night eh."
"Cook for her lang and she'll forgive you."
"Ehhh, sama na lang ako sa hospital to see her."
"Day off niya eh. I'll text her na pumunta sa Central Park na lang."
"Okay, much better."
"Sige, sige. I'll take a bath na. The breakfast is really good, love. Can't wait to eat all of the food you cook."
She kissed his hair and went to fix herself for the interview.
